Closure latch and guard



May 6, 1941. V w, J. CHRISTIE 2,240,923

CLOSURE LATCH AND GUARD Filed Nov. 29, 1939 1 1 1//'///'am J. (Sh/75172 INVENTOR Patented May 6, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT ,oFFicE 2,240,923 CLOSURE LATCH AND GUARD William J. Christie, Tulsa, Okla.

Application November 29, 1939, Serial No. 306,729

1 Claim.

The invention relates to closure latches and guards particularly adapted for use in connection with the free end of a sleeve and constructed in a manner whereby access to the latch is prevented when the screen is closed and the window sash is in lowered position.

A further object is to provide a screen latch comprising an inverted housing secured to the lower rail of the screen and having an apertured spring latching arm therein adapted to be sprung upwardly over a keeper lug carried by a window sill and to receive said lug in its aperture when the screen is in closed position.

A further object is to provide the outer end of the housing with means whereby access may be had with the finger for springing the latch to open position, and allowing the screen to be opened when the lower window sash is raised. The lower window sash forms means for preventing access to the latching spring when the sash is closed.

A further object is to provide the spring latching arm with an upwardly extending portion engaging the inner wall of the housing and conforming to the shape thereof, thereby allowing the housing and arm to be secured to the screen by a single screw.

A further object is to provide the outer end of the spring latch arm with a curved upwardly extending portion adapted to engage the sill carried keeper lug and to cam over said lug when the screen is closed so the lug will be received in the aperture thereof.

A further object is to provide a hinged closure for the outer end of the latch housing and provided with a notch through which the keeper lug passes to latching position, and at the same time further preventing access to the spring latch arm by an unauthorized person inserting an instrument within the housing.

With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawing, described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a detailed perspective view of a portion of the lower rail of a screen, showing the latching device applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view through a portion of a conventional form of window frame, the latching device and a portion of the screen, showing the screen in various positions approaching a. closed position.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the screen closed and latched.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of a modified form of latch housing.

Figure 5 is a detailed perspective view of a portion of a window sill showing the keeper lug carried thereby.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I designates the sill of a conventional form of window frame and 2 the lower rail of a conventional form of lower window sash 3.

It is the present practice to secure the lower rail 4 of a top hinge screen 5 to the window sill by conventional hooks and eyes, however an unauthorized person has only to cut the screening 6 and reach in and unhook the screen. In the present device the latching means is entirely housed and access has to be had thereto through the opening I of the housing 8 when the lower sash 3 is raised, the rail 2 of which substantially forms a closure for the housing.

Secured within the housing 8 by means of a single screw 9 is a spring latch 10. The spring latch [0 extends outwardly in relation to the housing 8 and terminates in an upwardly and outwardly extending portion H in the path of the keeper lug l2, so that when the screen is moved to the full line position shown in Figure 2, the portion ll of the spring latching arm will engage'the keeper lug I2 and will be flexed upwardly until the lug I2 is received within the aperture [3 of the latching arm, clearly shown in Figure 3. The inner end of the spring arm I0 terminates in an upwardly extending portion l4 engaging the inner wall l5 of the housing, therefore it will be seen that a single screw 9 may be used for securing both the latching arm and housing to the screen rail 4, and as the portion l4 conforms substantially to the curvature of the wall IS, the spring latching arm ID will be prevented from pivotal displacement, see Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 3, it will be seen that when it is desiredto release the screen from the inside of the frame, it will only be necessary for the operator to unlatch the lower sash 3 and move the same upwardly. After the sash 3 has been raised the operator can insert his finger under the free end of the spring latching arm It) for disengaging the same from the keeper lug l2 and then the screen can be swung outwardly on its top supporting hinges. When the lower sash is closed the lower rail 2 will prevent the insertion of a tool into the open end of the housing by an unauthorized person. It will be noted the keeper lug I2 is carried by a plate l6 secured to the window sill I by means of screws I1, and when the screen is closed the housing 8 also houses the plate l6 and screws I! so that access can not be had thereto. The same is true of the screw 9.

Referring to the modified form of housing shown in Figure 4, the operation and construction is the same as shown in Figure 1, excepting the outer end of the housing is provided with a hinged closure l8 having a recess l9 therein for allowing passage of the keeper lug I2. Closure l8 forms additional means for preventinginsertion latch is provided which is simple in construction, secured in place on the screen by a single screw and housed so that an unauthorized person will be prevented from reaching the latch and releasing the same when the screen is closed and the window sash in lowered position.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and useful is The combination with a window frame having ing a sill, a slidable sash within said frame and cooperating with the sill, a screen portion movable towards and away from the sill, of latching means for said screen, said latching means comof a tool for opening the screen from the -outside. Although the device has been described in connection with a screen having an' overhead prising an apertured spring arm carried by the screen, a lug carried by the sill in the path of said spring keeper arm and forming means over which the spring arm cams for receiving the keeper lug Tin the aperture thereof, a housing, an inner hinged mounting, it is obvious it could .alsobe used in connection with a screen having a side hinge mounting. and applicantdoes not limit himself in this particular. V V Fromthe above it willbe seen .thata screen 

